King James Bible
"And when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us; and we came to Kadeshbarnea."
Moses recalls leaving Mount Horeb (Sinai), where Israel received the law and entered into covenant with God. This departure marks the transition from divine revelation to the journey toward the promised land. The wilderness journey is characterized as both vast and fearsome, emphasizing the harsh conditions Israel endured. The route toward Amorite territory follows God's directive to approach Canaan from the south, reminding the audience of their shared experience of hardship. This phrase underscores Israel's obedience in following God's specific route despite the difficulties. Moses emphasizes that their path through hostile terrain was not random but divinely ordained. The arrival at Kadesh-barnea represents reaching the southern gateway to the promised land. This location would become pivotal as the place where Israel's faith failed through the negative spy report, resulting in forty years of wilderness wandering.